For more than 50 years, the Parma Schools Digital Media and Creative Arts program has prepared hundreds of high school students with a professional curriculum in television production, digital content creation and more. 20-year instructor David Droes told News 5 the program continues to evolve with a constantly updated course of study and the latest equipment as the way we consume news and information continues to change at lightening speed. "Its fantastic, Ive enjoyed it every year, the excitement never fades away, I enjoy working with the kids," Droes said. Theyre working with cameras, learn ..read more

For years, we have been reporting that Cleveland has one of the highest poverty rates and lowest literacy rates in the country.Now, we’re going to tell you about a first-of-its-kind program in the nation for kids ages 0 to 5 that is helping set the foundation for successWhen we first met Ashten Ace, he was a bit shy as you might expect a 4-year-old surrounded by strangers and cameras to be.But it only took a few minutes before he warmed up, letting his sweet, playful personality shine through.And it’s only been a few months coming to the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center in University Circle ..read more

Havi Kuritzsky’s smile is contagious. His laugh makes you laugh. And what he’s going through — at just 8 years old — makes you stop and think.“I think about what he was like before this diagnosis,” said mom Beth Kuritzsky. “It’s been hard to watch him suffer. Hard to watch any child suffer.”On Dec. 26, the day of his little brother Isaac’s birthday, Havi was rushed to the emergency room where they found out his kidneys are failing.For the last three weeks, he’s been on dialysis. Havi is plugged into this machine next to his bed for eight hours, every single night while he sleeps, so he can do ..read more

Restaurant kitchens are busy places.No time to waste.. and here at Lakewood High School, no food goes to waste.It’s just another way for the Lakewood School District to go green — composting all the food waste that comes out of its cafeterias, food science classes, and the student-run restaurant they’ve been operating for more than a decade.The Ranger Cafe is open to the public Tuesdays and Wednesdays, giving culinary arts students true hands-on experience.“They’re learning everything from safety and sanitization to proper knife handling, all the way to cooking methods,” said Chef Devan Corti ..read more

Every January, Head Start programs across Cuyahoga County deal with the same issue — children simply stop showing up for class.“Where are they going and who’s caring for them and who’s teaching them?” said Dr. Thea Wilson, VP of Children and Families at Step Forward, which operates the largest Head Start program in Ohio.Wilson has been an educator for 47 years and said she’s seen this trend for many, many of those years.While no formal studies have been done on the “why,” she believes a lot of it has to do with two words:“Life happens.”Families move, parents lose jobs and momentum, the holiday ..read more

Cleveland Councilwoman Jasmin Santana shared her childhood experience as a witness to domestic violence and explained why it's a crucial component in her effort to establish paid "safe leave" for city employees.Santana told News 5 watching her mother cope with domestic violence and abuse issued by her father in their Cleveland household is one reason why she's hoping her "safe leave" legislation will be approved during a city council vote on Monday, Dec. 5. The legislation, also sponsored by council members Charles Slife, Stephanie Howse and the Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Committ ..read more

Tenants living at the Residences at Shaker Square apartment complex in Cleveland said they're sick and tired of dealing with intermittent heating and water issues, and believe the city needs to do more to help.Chimene Anderson told News 5 she's been fighting heating issues since last winter and has been forced to use space heaters and her electric oven to heat her apartment unit.“It’s colder in my apartment than it is outside, it’s freezing," Anderson said. “I get up constantly during the night because I have to check the oven because I have to leave the oven open. Can I please have some heat ..read more

ABC News contributed to this report. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and The Pro Football Hall of Fame are Northeast Ohio staples.They highlight the accomplishments and accolades of performers and athletes, drawing visitors from across the World.However, another attraction is garnering international attention and acclaim.It's not centered around singers, athletes or art. It's entirely about Troll Dolls.A Northeast Ohio woman has collected so many Troll Dolls that she's not only the reigning queen of a Guinness World Record--she even has her own Troll Museum in Stark County.It's called The Tro ..read more

Marquona Tippens is a Cleveland mother of five children who can't believe she's still facing a petty theft shoplifting charge after a February cart check encounter at the Walmart in North Olmsted.Tippens told News 5 she took a video of the incident, which quickly went viral on TikTok, showing how a Walmart loss prevention officer accused her of trying to steal three items from the store, let her leave, and then several weeks later had police arrest her for allegedly taking $23.65 in merchandise.Tippens believes she's the victim of racial profiling, because she's African American, and believes ..read more

Colleen Cannon, manager of the One World Shop in Rocky River, is hoping shoppers will pay closer attention to the labor used to manufacture the goods and services they buy this holiday season.Cannon is urging local consumers to look for the "Fair Trade" label on the items they plan to purchase, to insure the goods and services aren't utilizing forced labor, a form of human trafficking.Cannon told News 5 she's hoping more consumers will seek out Fair Trade retail outlets, like One World Shop, which is a non-profit store that carries merchandise made by artisans from 30 countries across the glob ..read more